Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a powerful return to the political spotlight Wednesday night, delivering a keynote speech that doubled as a searing critique of President Donald Trump’s administration and policies. Speaking at the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge America, a group dedicated to empowering Democratic women to run for office, Harris addressed a packed room in the city where her political journey began.
It marked her first major address since her 2024 election defeat to Trump.
Without formally announcing a political comeback, Harris didn’t hold back as she accused the Trump administration of abandoning American ideals and weaponizing fear.
“Instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals,” Harris declared, “we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.”
The former vice president called out what she described as a calculated use of fear by the administration, stating, “They are counting on the notion that if they can make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others.”
On the economy, Harris didn’t mince words. She labeled Trump’s ongoing trade war as “the greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history,” pointing to rising costs for families and layoffs in businesses big and small. “The tariffs, as I predicted, are clearly inviting a recession,” she warned.
Harris also criticized Trump’s immigration policies, including the recent deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a case the Justice Department has admitted was mishandled, and the removal of a two year old U.S. citizen to Honduras with her undocumented mother.
“It is not OK to detain or disappear American citizens without due process,” Harris said, striking a tone both urgent and defiant.
In a nod to recent legal battles between state and federal authorities, Harris praised judges “who uphold the rule of law in the face of those who would jail them,” referencing the controversial arrest of a Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing immigration agents.
While she stopped short of announcing a new campaign, speculation about her political future is growing. With California Governor Gavin Newsom unable to seek re-election in 2026, Harris’ name has surfaced as a strong contender for the job. Recent polls show her maintaining significant support across the state.
Harris closed her speech on a hopeful note, urging resilience and unity amid political turmoil. “Things are going to get worse before they get better,” she said, “but we must stand together. Always remember: This country is ours. It belongs to we the people.”
Her appearance in San Francisco, and the speech’s political intensity, suggests that Kamala Harris is far from finished with public life. Whether she runs for governor or returns to the national stage, her message was unmistakably clear: the fight, in her eyes, is far from over.
